Rising by Holly Kelly Page B

was furious with her or himself, but it was there all the same. She held back the tears, not wanting to humiliate herself.
    The ride home was miserable. He didn’t say a word as tension rolled off him in waves. All she wanted was to get home and in bed so she could vent her hurt and disappointment into her pillow.
    Xanthus acted as if he wanted nothing more than to be rid of her. He got her wheelchair from the back and lifted her into it. He strode ahead of her to the front door as she wheeled after him. Xanthus opened the door for her to pass through, which she did. She hurried, knowing the tears were coming. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
    “Don’t forget to keep your windows and doors locked. And be sure to set your alarm,” he said before closing the door.
    Sara couldn’t believe him. So that was it? At the end of what started out as the perfect date, she got no goodbye, no kiss, and no I’ll call you—just a cold shoulder.
    She narrowed her eyes and straightened her spine. “Actually, I think I’ll go out,” she said to herself as she made her way to her apartment. “Maybe I’ll see the night life in my neighborhood. Then perhaps I’ll sleep under the stars tonight. I could invite some neighbors, like Slink to join me.” She got to her door and fished out her keys. How dare he act as if she had done something wrong! She’d done nothing.
    Th at night was a long one. Sara’s mind raced as the moon crept across the night sky. She bounced between anger and hurt. She was also mystified at what exactly had happened at the concert hall. Had Xanthus saved that woman? What kind of person has that power? And if he does, who is he? What is he? Where does someone like him come from?

     

    Xanthus slammed his foot down on the accelerator as the ocean view flew past his window. His self-loathing burned deep inside. He had misused the powers Triton entrusted to him. He had ignored his instructions and had meddled in the life of a human. Not only that, he had risked exposing himself.
    Xanthus grunted as he pounded his fist against the steering wheel. He had acted without honor. He had put his own personal feelings above duty. He’d even been neglecting his mission. Oh sure, he’d taken care of the latest cargo of waste that was to be dumped at sea. But then he’d known that the owner and board of directors of Roc enterprises were meeting tonight in response to the bombing of the dock. It would have presented the perfect opportunity to gather them together and send them to Triton to answer for their crimes. Instead, he’d gone to a concert with a criminal.
    No, he chided himself. As angry as he was, he couldn ’t blame Sara, and she was no criminal in his eyes. Still, she was a distraction, and he could not afford distractions. He’d been so worried about her and obsessed with her that he’d lost sight of his mission.
    Xanthus needed to take a step away. After all, Sara had lived among the humans her entire life. She could live a few more days without him. He was so close to fulfilling this assignment. He needed to get his head back in the game.
    The main office building of Roc was a dark silhouette against the starry sky. The parking lot spread before him, empty. He could smell the remnants of cigarette smoke, perfume, and sweat. They must have left about a half an hour ago. He slammed his fist into the steering wheel again. What would have been an easy round up would end up being a drawn-out hunt. He will have to track down the five members of the inner circle one by one. These five humans had caused the indescribable pain, suffering, and death of thousands of innocent Dagonians.
    Xanthus made a mental list of guilty persons. Number one on his list would have to be the Vice president, Trent McDougall. He was due to take a flight in the morning to the mainland, making his capture a time-sensitive matter. He was probably home at this time. He slept alone. His wife had left him